What does Squalane do?#
Squalane is a lightweight, non-greasy oil that closely mimics your skin's own natural moisturizing lipids. It integrates seamlessly into the skin's surface to help reduce moisture loss and leave skin feeling soft and smooth.
- Mimics your skin's own natural oils for a lightweight, non-greasy feel
- Helps reduce moisture loss through the skin's surface for lasting hydration
- Non-comedogenic and suitable for all skin types, including oily and breakout-prone skin
How it works
Squalane is a lightweight, stable oil that feels remarkably comfortable on the skin and absorbs without heaviness or greasiness. It helps skin feel softer and look more supple by supporting surface hydration with a thin, non-occlusive layer. The result is a smooth, nourished-looking complexion that stays comfortable throughout the day without a shiny or oily appearance.
How to use Squalane#
- Every day, and there is nothing to build up to — a full amount is fine from the first day.
- Morning or evening, whichever suits the rest of your routine. Neither is better for it.
- It goes on near the end, after anything water-based has settled, because an oil sits over water rather than under it.
- Warm a little between your fingertips first, then press it onto the face rather than rubbing it in.
- A small amount covers the whole face. If it feels slick afterwards, the answer is less of it, not a different product.
- It suits the area around the eyes as well as the rest of the face, and it does not make skin more sensitive to sunlight.
- It shares a routine comfortably with everything else, exfoliants and retinoids included, so it never needs an evening to itself.
- Can be mixed with a heavier cream for very dry skin, or used alone for oily skin types.
Squalane is one of the safest and most universally tolerated moisturizing ingredients, non-comedogenic and suitable for all skin types.
The form you will see it in
Squalane facial oil
- Where it goes
- As your moisturizer
Using Squalane with other ingredients
Pairs well with Squalane
Hyaluronic acid
Works well togetherHyaluronic acid draws water in and squalane sits over it as a light surface film — a humectant paired with an emollient.
Ceramides
Works well togetherCeramides help reinforce the look and feel of a healthy moisture barrier while squalane tops up the surface lipid film.
Retinol
Works well togetherUsing a moisturizer alongside your retinoid helps offset dryness during the adjustment period.
What not to use with Squalane
Nothing flagged. None of the ingredients this wiki covers needs to be kept apart from Squalane — check the label of anything not covered here.
Who should avoid Squalane?#
Six situations change whether Squalane suits your skin right now. Each one is either a reason to skip it, a reason to go slowly, or nothing to watch for.
- Maternity & Nursing
- No caution
- Fragile or Sensitive
- No caution
- Recent Facial or Laser
- No caution
- Prone to Redness
- No caution
- Dry or Itchy Patches
- No caution
- Recent Shave or Wax
- No caution
Cosmetic strength limits for Squalane where you live#
| Region | Maximum strength |
|---|---|
| United States | No explicit cap |
| Canada | No explicit cap |
| European Union | No explicit cap |
| Great Britain | No explicit cap |
No cosmetic regulator in these four markets sets a maximum strength for squalane. That is a limit on the rules, not a signal to use more: how much goes into a product is the formulator's decision.
Products with Squalane#
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Common questions about Squalane#
When should you apply Squalane?
- Every day, and there is nothing to build up to — a full amount is fine from the first day.
How often can you use Squalane?
- Daily.
Where do you apply Squalane?
- All over the face. Keep it away from your eyes and lips.
Does Squalane make skin more sensitive to the sun?
- No. Squalane is not flagged as increasing sun sensitivity.
What should you not use with Squalane?
- Nothing flagged. None of the ingredients this wiki covers needs to be kept apart from Squalane — check the label of anything not covered here.
Is there a cosmetic limit for Squalane?
- No. No cosmetic regulator in the United States, Canada, the European Union or Great Britain sets a maximum strength for it. That is a limit on the rules, not a signal to use more.
Related ingredients#
How we check this#
Everything on this page traces to the sources listed below — regulators' own publications and published studies. Where the evidence does not answer a question, it is left unanswered.
Our review is AI-assisted and is not a named expert's opinion. Last reviewed August 8, 2026.
Think something here is out of date or wrong? Email us at wiki@skinintelligence.ai with your reasoning and where you read it. We read what people send, and we update the page when the sources support it.
Regulators and official bodies · 7
- S1Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Squalane and Squalene. J Am Coll Toxicol 1982;1(2):37–56 (Elder RL, ed.). Retrieved as the CIR re-review package PDF, ` Includes the 2019 "New Data" section.
- S2Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Squalane and Squalene — 2019 re-review summary, ` Note: the vault frontmatter records this at tier 2; CIR is named in the Tier 1 list in, so it is cited here as Tier 1. Worth a data-quality finding.
- S3Fiume M, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD, Liebler DC, Marks JG, Shank RC, Slaga TJ, Snyder PW, Heldreth B. Squalane and Squalene. Int J Toxicol 2023;42(3_suppl):107S–109S. PMID 37752766. doi:10.1177/10915818231204276.
- S4Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products, consolidated text, Annexes II–VI (EUR-Lex).
- S5Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as retained in UK law, Annex II and Annex III (legislation.gov.uk).
- S621 CFR Part 700, Subpart B — Requirements for Specific Cosmetic Products (eCFR, current).
- S7Health Canada. Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist: prohibited and restricted ingredients (canada.ca, current).
Studies and references · 14
- S8Chiba K, Yoshizawa K, Makino I, Kawakami K, Onoue M. Comedogenicity of squalene monohydroperoxide in the skin after topical application. J Toxicol Sci 2000;25(2):77–83. PMID 10845185. doi:10.2131/jts.25.77. [SQUALENE].
- S9Zhang W, Zhang Q, Zhou Z, Zhang Y, Li X, Shen H, Tang L, Xiang Q. Oxidative-Inflammatory Modulation of Skin Lipid Metabolism by Squalane, Oleic Acid, and Linoleic Acid. Cosmetics 2025;12(4):130. doi:10.3390/cosmetics12040130.
- S10Wolosik K, Chalecka M, Gasiewska G, Palka J, Surazynski A. Squalane as a Promising Agent Protecting UV-Induced Inhibition of Collagen Biosynthesis and Wound Healing in Human Dermal Fibroblast. Molecules 2025;30(9):1964. PMID 40363772. doi:10.3390/molecules30091964.
- S11Wolosik K, Chalecka M, Gasiewska G, Palka J, Surazynski A. The Mechanism of Protective Action of Plant-Derived Squalane (2,6,10,15,19,23-Hexamethyltetracosane) Against UVA Radiation-Induced Apoptosis in Human Dermal Fibroblasts. Antioxidants 2025;14(7):853. PMID 40722956. doi:10.3390/antiox14070853.
- S12Oliveira ALS, Valente D, Moreira HR, Pintado M, Costa P. Effect of squalane-based emulsion on polyphenols skin penetration: Ex vivo skin study. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2022. PMID 35994992. doi:10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112779.
- S13de Souza AC, Sipoli CC, Samulewski RB, Raimundini Aranha AC, Defendi RO, Suzuki RM. Effect of Squalane as a Carrier in O/W Nanoemulsions for Dermal Delivery of Vitamin E. ACS Omega 2025. PMID 41427219. doi:10.1021/acsomega.5c08561.
- S14Kato S, Taira H, Aoshima H, Saitoh Y, Miwa N. Clinical evaluation of fullerene-C60 dissolved in squalane for anti-wrinkle cosmetics. J Nanosci Nanotechnol 2010;10(10):6769–74. PMID 21137794. doi:10.1166/jnn.2010.3053.
- S15Martínez de Murguía Fernández L, Puig Algora G, Bajona Roig M, Bacchini G. Effectiveness and tolerability of a squalane and dimethicone-based treatment for head lice. Parasitol Res 2021. PMID 33797611. doi:10.1007/s00436-021-07113-y.
- S16Wollenberg A, Barbarot S, Torrelo A. Basic Emollients for Xerosis Cutis in Atopic Dermatitis: A Review of Clinical Studies. Int J Dermatol 2025. PMID 40265493. doi:10.1111/ijd.17793.
- S17Rageh MA, Seoudy WM, Abozeid MF, Elkholy AM, Moubasher AEA, Abdel-Latif AM, Attallah DAA, Mohamed EM, Assaf HA, Sabry H, Nasr MM, Hegazy MS, Hunter N, Zuelfakkar N, Bedair NI, Mohammed NE, Abdelkodous SF, Gohary YM, Mohy SM. Egyptian National Consensus on Dermocosmetic Ingredient Selection Across Common Dermatology Scenarios: A RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Study. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 2026. PMID 41537948. doi:10.1007/s13555-025-01650-5.
- S18Huang ZR, Lin YK, Fang JY. Biological and pharmacological activities of squalene and related compounds: potential uses in cosmetic dermatology. Molecules 2009;14(1):540–54. PMID 19169201. doi:10.3390/molecules14010540. [predominantly SQUALENE].
- S19NCATS Inxight Drugs, SQUALANE record, ` A drug database → Tier 3 per; the vault records it at tier 2. Data-quality finding.
- S20National Eczema Association, Can Squalane Help Eczema?, capped at Tier 3 by. The vault frontmatter records it at tier 1, which the banlist overrides. Data-quality finding. Interview-based patient education; used for nothing in this derivation.
- S21CosmoDerma, Daily use of a bakuchiol and squalane-containing face serum impacts skin esthetics. Whole-formula; not load-bearing for any answer here.
